Apparatus for producing pin curls



Sept. 29, 1959 E. A. HEIDEI. 2,906,272

APPARATUS FOR PRoDUcING PIN cURLs Filed July 24, 195e 3 sheets-sheet 1 IN1/5N TOE Eugene A. H ei del I NIAIII wm NSA WQN l d is...) I

...a JIT son A/larc/v A TTORMEYS Sept. 29, 1959 E. A. HEIDL APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PIN CURLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1956' INVENTOR. ,Faye/7 J4. j/del BY Man/7, idd/,Afa/mnsor/ Marc/ ATTORNEYS Sept' 29, 1959 E. A. HEIDEL 2,906,272

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PIN CURLs Filed July 24, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @www IMI W.

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, aww 105 110 WW/7 INVENTOR. Eugene A. He'cel' BY Munn, Lddy, /Vcz {hansb/2 Marc/7 Aq'TOR/VEYS United States Patent O- 2,906,272 y APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PIN CURLS y Eugene A. Heidel, Jersey City, NJ. Application July 24, 1956, Serial No. 599,817 19 Claims. (ci. 132-1) This invention relates to hair curling devices, and more particularly to devices intended to form so-called pin curls.

In the trade, a pin curl is understood to be a lock of hair wound into a spiral form, from the roots out, and secured in such form at against the scalp. The employing of pin curls is considered to produce a very natural-looking wave, and is generally the basis of most professional hair dressing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved device for forming pin curls, which will form a perfect curl in a fraction of a second.

Another object of the invention s to provide an' improved curling device as above set forth, which will consistently produce perfectly formed pin curls each time it is used, thus assuring even waves.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved lpin curl producing device as characterized, which hasprovision for the insertion of pins in the curls to hold or secure the same without disturbing the shape of the curl.

A still further object vof lthe invention is to provide an improved pin-inserting curling devicev in accordance with the above,-which .includes a magazine for tstoring a plurality of bobby or hairpins, and has means for automatically -feeding the pins from the said magazine .as they are required, thus enabling thel device to constitute a complete 4hair curling implement by which the user s enabled to the maximum extent Ato concentrate his attention on the curl being formed. v

lStill another object of the invention is to provide an improved hair curling implement as above set forth, wherein there is included means for wetting .the curl or yautomatically applying a lotion treatment orV thelike to the curl after it has been formed.

Av feature of the invention resides in vthe vprovision of anv improved hair curling implement having all of the above advantages and functions, and which is Vnevertheless extremely simple in ,its `construction'and economical to fabricate. l

Other features and -advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters'of reference indicate corresponding `parts wherever possible in the several views, "in which: i

Figure 1 is a side view .partly in longitudinal vertical section and partly in elevation, of vthe improved hair curling implement of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the hairpin applying portion of the device shown in Fig. 1, with a portion of the pin feeding mechanism shown detached to more clearly illustrate the construction thereof.

Fig. 31is an end elevational view of the device of Fig. 1 but with the hairpin feeding means completely assembled.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the curling head portion of the device.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational View of the curling head portion of the device.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the hair. curling spindle lwhich is rotatably mounted in the curling head.

Fig. 7 is a top or 4plan view of the actuating mechanism for driving the curling spindle shown in Fig. 6. n

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of the portion of the hairpin feedingmeans which is shown detached in Fig. 2.

'2,906,272' Patented Sept. 29, y 1959 Fig. 9 is an inside elevational view of the part of the pin feeding means-depicted in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic showing of the curling head and spindle, in the process of starting to curl a lock of hair, a portion of the curling head being broken away, and the lock of hair being curled to the left. l

Fig, 11 is a view like Fig. 10, but showing a -lock of hair about to be curled to the right.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic showing of the top of the curling head and spindle, illustrating the placement of locks of hair therein for left curling or for right curling.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic showing of a cu'rl formed by the device of the invention, illustrating the yforming of the curl from the root out.

Fig. 14 is a top or plan view of a completed curl held in place by a bobby pin.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a bobby pin holder and plurality of pins carried thereby, such holder being utilized in loading the magazine of the hair curling implement.

Fig. 16 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation, showing a hair curling implement illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 17 is a side elevational view of a different type of hairpin, asV adapted lfor use with the implement of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary vertical section and side elevation of a hair curling implement illustrating yet another embodiment of the invention, adapted to handle still another type of hairpin.

"Fig, 19 is a side elevational view of another type of hairpin adapted for use with the hair curling device of the invention. y

Fig. 2O is a fragmentary side elevational View of a plunger for engagement with the hairpin shown in Fig. 19.

Fig. 2l is a side elevational view of still another form of hairpin Vadapted for use with the hair curling device of the invention.

Referring to Fig. l, the improved hair curling device shown therein comprises a frame constituted of an elongatebase plate 30 having attached to it a vcentrally-disposed, longitudinally extending upright plate 31 provided with a thumb grip portion 32 formed by the provision of a thumb opening 33. The base plate 30 at oneextremity thereof has an upstanding finger-grip portion 34 provided with indents 35. and 36. for engagement with the fourth and fifth fingers of the hand. By this organization the frame or base portion may be readily held in one hand by inserting the thumb through the thumb opening 33 and engaging the fourth and fifth fingers of the same hand with the frame portion 34.

Secured to the base plate 30 and to the upstanding frame plate 31 is a tubular frame portion 37 which I term a curling head inasmuch as the lower portion thereof is intended to confine a lock of hair which is to becurled. The frame of the curling device further includes a top plate 3S which issecured to the upstanding plate 31 and curling head 37, said top plate being in general parallel to the base plate 30. y

In accordance with this invention, inside of the curling head 37 I rotatably mount a curling spindle 39 of hollow construction, said spindle being rotatably carried by a stationary bearing post 40 secured to arid depending from the top frame plate 38. The curling spindle 39 may be held in place by any suitable means, as for example, by a spring clip 41 extending through notches inthe spindle and engaged with a groove in the bearing post 40.

At its llower extremity the bearing post 40 has `a diametric slot 42, Fig. 6, and adjacent the inner terminus of the slot 42 there is provided on the spindle 39v anannular ange 43 which I term a curling wheel. Referring to Fig. 2, the curling wheel 43 is shown as having an arcuate notch or cutout 44 by which there are formed two 3 opposed hooks 45 between the ends of which exists an appreciable space 46.

The lower extremity of the curling head 37 is provided with five vertically-extending notches 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51, `see Fig. 2, the last-numbered notch being not readily visible in this figure but being similar to and directly opposite the notch 48 (see Fig. 3 also).

As seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 7, that lower edge portion of the curling head 37 which is disposed between the notches 49 and 50 is formed into a tapered, laterally-projecting Vpoint 52. In a somewhat similar manner, those lower portions of the curling head 37 disposed between the slots 48, 49, the slots 47, 48 and the slots 51, 47 are formed into tapered thickened extensions 53, 54 and 55, and an extension 56 is provided between the slots 50 and 51, similar in general to the extension 53.

Referring to Fig. 4, the slot 47 is shown as extending upward a much greater extent than the remainder of the slots, said slot 47 at its upper portion widening into a transverse slot 57 having angularly Vdisposed or con- 'vergent upper edges 58 and 59.

The curling head and curling spindle organization as above set forth is extremely advantageous in the formation of either left or `right pin curls. For example, referring to Figs. and 12 there is shown a lock of hair 60 extending from the scalp 61, said lock of hair being passed through the slot 50 in the curling head 37 and across the lower face of the curling wheel 43. The lock of hair 60 is then passed upward into the arcuate slot 44 in the curling wheel and, as viewed in Fig. 4, is passed out of the curling head through the rightmost portion of the transverse slot 57 thereof. Upon the curling wheel l43 being turned counterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 12, the lock of hair 60 will be engaged by the rightmost one of the two hooks 45 and will be wound around the bifurcated lower portion ofthe post 40 (which contains the diametric slot 42). Considering the average length of a lock of hair as being between three and five inches, upon the curling spindle 39 and wheel 43 making approximately three revolutions, the lock will be formed into a spiral coil about the lower post portion. There is thus quickly formed a perfect hair curl, which has been curled to the left. p

By a similar procedure a lock of hair curled to the right may be as quickly and as perfectly formed. For example, considering again Fig. 12 and also Fig. 1l, a lock of hair 62 coming from the scalp 61 may be brought into the curling head 37 through the slot 49 thereof, thereafter passed across the bottom face of the curling wheel 43 and thence through the slot 47, said lock passing out of the curling head 37 through the leftmost portion -of the transverse slot 57 of the curling head as viewed in Fig. 4. With the lock of hair in this position, the curling spindle 39 and wheel 43 are rotated clockwise as viewed in Figs. 2 and 12, whereupon the lock will be wound to the right about the lower bifurcated portion of the post 40. In either case, I have found that a pin curl may be very quickly, easily and perfectly formed.

It will be understood that, for the above curling operations, the lower end of the curling head 37 is placed flat against the scalp.

In order to quickly and conveniently effect rotation of the curling spindle 39 and wheel 43 while the curling device is held in one hand, I provide a driving mechanism therefor comprising a rack 63, Fig. 7, carried in a slide 64 secured to the upper portion of the frame plate 37, said rack at one extremity mounting a ingerpiece 65 disposed in vertical alignment with the curved portions 35 and 36 of the iingerpiece 34 and arranged for engagement by the foreiinger. The rack 63 is influenced by a helical, compression-type return spring 66 extending around a bar 67 secured to the ngerpiece 65 and having are normally maintained in a leftmost position as shown in Figs. l and 7.

Cooperable with the rack?63 is a pinion 69 carried on a vertical shaft 70 ofthe frame, said pinion being rigid with a gear 71 meshing with a pinion 72 on the curling spindle 39. It will be evident that `movement of the iingerpiece 65 and rack 63 from right to left as viewed in Figs. l and 7 will cause counterclockwise turning of the curling spindle 39 and curling wheel 43 as viewed in Figs. 7 and 9, and upon release of pressure from the finger 65 the latter and the rack 63 will be returned or shifted to the right with an accompanying clockwise turning movement of the curling spindle 39 and wheel 43. The right-to-left movement of the fngerpiece 65 and rack `63 is utilized for producing left curls, and the springdriven left-to-right movement of the rack 63 and fingeri piece 65 is utilized for producing right curls.

In accordance with this invention, after the producing of either a left or right curl by rotation of the curling spindle 39 and wheel 43, a hair or bobby pin may be applied to the curl to hold the formation thereof prior to removal of the spindle from the curl, by actuation of another portion of the curling device.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, I provide on the lower -frame plate 30 a hairpin magazine 73 in the form of a flat tubular member of rectangular conliguration as viewed from the top. The magazine 73 is intended to carry a plurality of bobby pins such as are indicated by the broken lines 74, such pins having their yoke or bent portions at the right side of the magazine 73 and their points at the left side thereof, as viewed in Fig. 2.

The bobby pins 74 may be conveniently inserted in the magazine 73 by means of a loading device 75, Fig. 15, such device comprising a fiat strip of tin or plastic or other suitable material on which the bobby pins 74 are loaded. The points of the pins in Fig. 15 are indicated at 76, and the yoke portions at 77. In Fig. 2, the position of the loading strip 75 is indicated by the broken outline as shown. Retention of the bobby pins in the magazine 73, and advance of such pins is effected by a keeper 78 adapted to be slidably received in the magazine yand to engage the bobby pins 74, said keeper having a handle 79 accommodated in a slot '80 in the upper wall of the magazine. A spring 81 connected with the handle 79 and with a portion of the frame, normally holds the keeper 78 in engagement with the bobby pins and applies a continuous force to the pins, thereby to advance them downward in the magazine, as viewed in Fig. 2. The keeper 78 is provided with a slot 82 to accommodate the loading strip 75 during insertiony of the keeper in the magazine, and when this operation has been completed the loading strip 75 is removed by merely pulling it out from the magazine.

Referring to Fig. 2, on the base plate 30 there is provided a slide 83 adapted to be occupied by the bobby pins 74 one at a time, said slide leading away from the magazine 73 to the left, to a point adjacent the curling head 37 where it aligns with the slot 51 thereof.

Slidably carried by the frame 30, 31 is a plunger 84, secured by an arm 85 to a iingerpiece 86, the latter being disposed between the ngerpieces 65 and 34 as shown in Fig. 1 and being adapted for engagement by the second finger of the hand which holds the curling device. The arm 85 has a projection 87 engaging one end of a helical compression spring 88 which is carried in a tubular member 89 rigid with the frame plate 31. The tubular member 89 has a pair of elongate, opositely-disposed longiv tudinal slots 90 in which the arm 85 may travel, and

a bearing in a part 68 mounted on the upper portion of the frame plate 31. It will be readily understood that, by such an organization, the rack 63 and ngerpiece 65 in the curling head 37 and completely across the spacev in said curling head, below the undersurface of the curling wheel 43. Upon the plunger 84 and ngerpiece 86 being again retracted by the spring 88, a second bobby pin will be deposited from the magazine 73 into the slide 83, whereupon a repeat actuation of the plunger 84 will eject the second bobby pin into the curling head, and so on, thereby to fasten each curled strand of hair when it has been formed.

Further, in accordance with this invention I provide vmeans by which the bobby pins ejected into the curling head are automatically opened and maintained open the proper amount, thereby to enable. them to be readily passed on opposite sides of the curled strands of hair. In accomplishing this, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I provide a lever 92, pivoted on the base plate 30 and having an` upstanding pin 93 engaged in a cam slot 94 of a cam plate 95, the latter being secured to and movable with the arm 85 of the plunger 84. The cam slot 94 has straight sections 96, 97, and angular sections 98 and 99 as shown.

At its other extremity the lever 92 has a stepped portion constituting three wedges 100, 101 and 102 adapted to be consecutively engaged with a bobby pin being advanced from right to left along the slide 88. As seen in Fig. 2, when the bobby pin is thus advanced the wedge 102, which is the largest of the three, is disposed in the path of the bobbyand will spread the latter apart an appreciable extent whereby vthe upper arm of the bobby pin will engage the lower surface of the curling wheel 43. Thus the bobby pin will initially pass on opposite sides of the curl. As the bobby pin advances, the pin 93 of the lever 92 will be brought to the second straight section 97 of the cam slot 94. This will bring the second Wedge 101 between the arms of the bobby pin, thereby to reduce the increased spread which the pin has suiered during its initial advance. Upon further advance of the bobby pin the cam pin 93 will enter the sloping section 99` of the cam slot 94 thereby tobring vthe smallest Wedge 100 into place between the arms of the bobby pin.' This will further serve to prevent excessive opening of the bobby pin and allow it to continue to extend on opposite sides of `the curled hair. It will be noted that in so doing the bobby pin passes through the diametric slot 42 of the stationary post 40. As the plunger 84 continues to advance from right to left the cam pin 99 will be further shifted so as to remove entirely the wedge 100 from between the arms of the bobby pin and thereafter thepin may become completely shifted out of the slide 83. Upon completion of this movement of the bobby pin, the curled hair will have been completely pinned, whereupon the curling device may be removed from the curl by merely bringing it away from the scalp, the curl passing out through the bottom opening of the curling head 37.

However, prior to removal of the curling device from the scalp there may be applied to the curl by the device of this invention a wetting solution or lotion, for treating the same, and this is accomplished automatically by the completion of the stroke of the plunger 85.l In carrying this out, a small tank or reservoir indicated bythe outline 103 in Fig. l is mounted in the verticalV frame plate 31, such tank having a pair of discharge tubesV 104 and 105 terminating at the underside of the curling Wheel 43. The tank 103 may be formed of any suitable material, and is preferably provided with aflexible wall 106I engaged by a lever 107 which'is pivoted ony the frame jplate 31. The lever 107 may be engaged and shifted by an extension 108 on the ngerpiece 86 at the end of the stroke of the latter, thereby to-depress the exible wall Yonto the pin curl. If will be understood that, if a larger.

amount of solution isdesired, the tngerpiece 86 may be actuated several timeswhile at Ithe end of its' stroke, toA

effect a pumping of the solution from the tank 103.

`and curl the sameabout the post.

vAnother embodiment of the invention is rshown in Fig.

16.v 'Ihe hair-curling device shownv inthis figure isin` tended to handle ia dilerent kind of hairpin, fo'r example, that indicated at 110, which requires no lspreadingmech-v anism. Thus, the embodiment of the inventionshown in Fig. 16 does not have the spreading wedges 100, 101 and 102 shown in Fig. 2, nor the cam lever 92 and cam plate 95. Accordingly, the frame may be much smaller, and instead of the frame having a thumb opening 33 as shown in Fig. 1, it has a thumb engageable portion 33a. By virtue of the frame being smaller, there is not required the lever 107 by which tluid is ejected from the tank 103.4 Instead, the projection '108 ony the finger 86 may directly engage the flexible wall 106 of the tank 103.

It will be noted further that 4in Fig. 16'the curling wheel 43 is provided with a diametric groove '43a to re-v ceive the upper exible arm of the hairpin 110. Aside from the above, the functioning of the device shown in Fig. 16 is similar to that already described, and parts functioning in a similar manner have been `given like characters even though they may have slightly diierent shapes;

Fig. 17 shows another form of hairpin, indicated as 111, which may be usable with the device of the present invention, and a fourth form of hairpin usable with* the present improved curling device is indicated at 112 in- Fig. 18. A still different hairpin 113 is shown in Fig. 19, and Fig. 20 shows a plunger 84 adapted to engage and advance the hairpin 113. Fig. 2l shows still another form of hairpin 114 which may be used with the hair curling device of this invention. 0 t

The method by which curls are formed with the device of this invention is illustrated schematically in Fig. 13, where the hair is lcurled from the root outward. Fig. 14 is a plan view of a finished curl, held in place by' 'a bobby pin.v v 9 I It will be readilyappreciated that, in accordance with my invention as aboveset forth, I have provided a lsimple and improved hair curling device by which perfect pin curls may be repeatedly formed each lin a fraction of a second, thusassuring even waves. Moreover, the device provides for the insertion of pins inthe 'formed curls without disturbing the shape thereof, and lautomatically suppliesk the lpins for such insertion from a magazine. My improved hairvcurling device additionally provides means forA supplying a lotion to the curl as an incident to the operation ofv applying the bobby pin, thus 'con'- stituting-a complete hair curling implement. Thev struc.

ture may be formed simply and of light-weight plastic materi-als, thereby reducing the fabricating cost and elim inating the possibility of the hand of the user becoming tired due to holding the device.

lVariations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, andportions'of the improvement may be used Without others.

LA hair curling vdevice comprising a substantially tubular curling head adapted to be placed with one end against the scalp; a curling spindle disposed axially withinthe curling head, said spindle being mounted for rotationand having hairV engaging means at one end, said onefspindle end beingr spaced inward from the/scalp engaging end lof the head; and a stationary bearing post disposedaxially Withinsaid curling head and extending from the scalp engaging end ,thereofv past the said one end ofthe spindle, said post constituting a mandrel about which the hair may be wound. f

2. The invention as defined inclaini 1 inlwhiclfthe hair engaging means on the spindle comprises axfwheel having-a` notch and a hook defining a portion of said notch, said .hook being adapted to engage `a lockofxhair l' 3..The invention as defined in claim mentioned. hook and, defining another portion of said slot,

2 in whichv he wheel. hasa 'second hook disposed oppositezto theufrstone or thel other of said hooks engaging the lock of hair depending on the, direction of rotation of the spindle.

4. The invention as defined. in claim 3 in which the curling head'. has a tapered, laterally-projecting portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the scalp, a pair of'slots disposed on opposite sides of said projecting portion for receiving a lock of hair, and a third slot disposed diametrically opposite said projecting portion,A through which said lock of hair may be passed in order to engage it with one` or the other of the hooks of the wheel.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3 in which there is a fIaniel rigidly secured to the curling head and a reciprocable member slidably carried by the frame and adapted to be engaged and depressed by a finger of the handin which there are spring means normally holding said reciprocable member in and returning it to a starting position, and` in which there is a drive mechanism between said reciprocable member yand the curling spindle, for rotating the latter in response to reciprocation of' said member, the power of said spring means being sufiicient to drive the spindle for curling a lock of hair whereby either a left-wound or -a right-wound curl may be formed by the spindle.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the curling head isA mountedl on a frame, said frame having a pair of oppositely-disposed finger-engageable portions by which it may be gripped'. in the hand, and in which there is manually operable means carried by said frame, for turning said spindle, said manually-operable means including a manually-engageable member adapted to be depressed by a finger of the hand holding the frame, said member being disposed adjacent one of the finger grips of the frame.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 in which the means for driving the spindle comprises a gear train connected to the spindle, and a rack drivingly engaging saidgear train and adapted to be actuated by said manuallyengageable member. Y

8.V The invention as defined inVA claim 6 in` which one of the finger grips on the frame comprises a substantially central frame portion having an opening therein, through which the thumb ofthe hand may be inserted.

9. A hair curling. device comprising a substantially tubular curling head adapted tobe placed with one end against the-scalp; a curling spindle disposed axially Withinthe curling head, said spindle being mounted for krotation and having hair-engaging means at one end, said spindleend being spaced inward-from the scalp engaging end of the head; a stationary postl disposed axially within said curling head'and extendingffrom the scalp-engaging end thereof to the said end of the spindle, said post constituting a mandrel about whichv the hair may be wound; a frame; slideV means carried by said frame, for guiding a hairpin during'longitudinal movement thereof on the frame; a plunger movably carried by the frame, for advancing said hairpin along said slide means; and a wedge mounted ron the frame; for spreading the hairpin as the-latter is shifted along theislide means and is about tobe ejected from the frame.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 in which the stationary boss has a slotv to enable the hairpin being ejectedto pass 'through Athe boss when pinning the curled lock ofhair. f

1'1. The invention as vdefined'in claim 9 in which there arey oppositely disposed linger grips mounted on the frame, by which the latter maybe grasped and held in one hand.

12. A device for usein the making of pin curls, comprising a frame; slide means carried by said frame,'for guiding ahairpin for longitudinal movement thereof on theframega plunger movably carried by the frame, for advancing said hairpin along said slide means; a wedge mountedon the frame, for spreading the hairpin as` the lattrzis shiftedv along the guide means and isabout to be ejectedifrom' the frame; a:secondwedge smaller than the f firstfor spreading the hairpin; and means for automatically substituting the second Wedge for the first wedge as the' hairpin is made to continue its advance.

13. The invention as definedin` claim 12 in which the wedges are carried by a member shiftable on the frame, and in whichV there is means for automatically shifting said member to substitute one wedge for the other, in response to movement of the plunger in pin-ejecting direction.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13 in which the member carrying the wedges comprises a lever pivoted on the frame, and in which the means for shifting the wedges includes a cam strip movable with the plunger, and a follower on the lever, engageable with said cam strip.

15. The invention as defined in claim 12 in which there is a third wedge smaller than the rst and second wedges for spreading the hairpin, and in which there is means for substituting the third wedge for the second-mentioned wedge as the hairpin is ejected still further from the frame.

16. A device for use in the making of pin curls, comprising a frame; slide means carried by said frame, for guiding a hairpin for longitudinal movement thereof on the frame; a plunger movably carried by the frame, for advancing said hairpin along said slide means; a wedge mounted on the frame, for spreading the hairpin as the latter is shifted along'the guide means and is about to be ejected from the frame; and a liquid reservoir carried by the frame, having orifice means by which liquid may be'discharged therefrom at a point adjacent the location of ejection of the hairpins from the frame.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16 in which the reservoir has a flexible and depressible wall, and in which there is means for depressing said wall in response to completion of. movement of the plunger in ejecting the hairpin from the frame.

18. A device for use in the making of pin curls, comprising a frame; slide means carried by said frame, for guiding a hairpin for longitudinal movement thereof on the frame; a plunger movably carried by the frame, for advancing said hairpin along said slide means; a wedge mounted on the frame, for spreading the hairpin as the latter is shifted along the guide means and is about to be ejected from the frame; a magazine for hairpins, attached to the frame; and means for causing hairpins from the magazine to be deposited'one at a time in the slide means, in response to reciprocation of the plunger, saidmeans for feeding hairpins comprising a keeper member engageable with a hairpin in the magazine and having a slot along a side edge thereof and extending between its leading edge and its trailing edge to provide clearance for a hairpin carrier by which hairpins are loaded in said magazine.

19. The invention as defined in claim 18 in which the frame has a slotted tubular member having a pair of oppositely located coextensive slots and a compression return spring carried therein and in which the plunger has an operating arm adapted to travel in both the slots of the tubular member and be engaged by said return spring, forreturning the plunger to a starting position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 348,138 Overhiser Aug. 24, 1886 1,253,161l Evans Jan. 8, 1918 1,337,039 Bruder Apr. 13, 1920 1,425,089 Henry Aug. 8, 1922 2,226,351 Spreckels Dec. 24, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,969 Great Britain Mar. 21, 1895 192,829 Great Britain Feb. 15, 1923 257,090 Great Britain Aug. 26, 1926 

